How to Manage Your Doorbird's Video Storage
Your Doorbird video doorbell captures important events at your front door, but this footage needs to be stored somewhere. Whether you're using Doorbird's cloud service or a local storage solution, you may encounter a situation where storage becomes full or stops recording.
This guide explains your storage options and how to manage your video history effectively to ensure your system is always ready to record.
## Understanding Doorbird's Storage Options
Doorbird provides flexible options for storing your video history, catering to different user needs.
### 1. Doorbird Cloud Recording
This is the simplest method. For a monthly subscription fee, Doorbird will automatically save a history of snapshots and video clips to its secure cloud servers.
- How it Works: The service typically stores events for a set period (e.g., 7 days). After this period, the oldest recordings are automatically deleted to make space for new ones.
- Potential Issues: A 'storage full' issue is rare with this service but could happen if there's a billing problem with your subscription, which might revert your account to a more limited plan. Recording can also stop if your Doorbird loses its internet connection.
### 2. Local Network Storage (NAS/NVR)
For users who prefer to keep their data local and avoid subscriptions, Doorbird can be configured to save recordings to a device on your home network.
- How it Works: You can set up your Doorbird to send recordings via FTP(S) or SMB/CIFS to a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, a computer, or a compatible NVR.
- Potential Issues: This is where 'storage full' errors are more common. If the hard drive in your NAS runs out of space, the Doorbird will no longer be able to save new files. Recording will also fail if the Doorbird loses its connection to the NAS over your local network.
## Managing Your Recorded History
Whether you use the cloud or local storage, you'll manage your videos through the Doorbird app.
### Accessing and Reviewing Events
- Open the Doorbird app and tap on the 'History' icon (it usually looks like a clock).
- This will show you a list of all recent events, including doorbell rings and motion triggers.
- You can tap on any event to view the snapshot or watch the associated video clip.
### Deleting Unwanted Recordings
If you need to manually clear space or simply want to remove a specific event for privacy reasons, you can delete it from the history.
- Navigate to the History log.
- Select the event you wish to remove.
- Look for a delete icon (often a trash can).
- Tap it and confirm the deletion. Please note: This action is permanent and the recording cannot be recovered.
## Troubleshooting Storage Problems
If your Doorbird has stopped recording, follow these steps to diagnose the issue.
- Check Internet/Network Connection: First, ensure your Doorbird is online. If it cannot reach the internet (for cloud storage) or your local network (for NAS storage), it cannot save recordings. Check its network status in the app.
- Verify Cloud Subscription: If you use cloud recording, log into your account on the Doorbird website and check that your subscription is active and your payment method is up to date.
- Check NAS/NVR Storage Capacity: If you use local storage, log into your NAS or NVR and check the available disk space. If the drive is full, you will need to delete old files manually or configure your NAS to automatically overwrite the oldest recordings when space is low.
- Verify NAS Connection Settings: In the Doorbird app's administration settings, double-check the server address, username, password, and protocol (e.g., FTP, SMB) for your NAS. An incorrect setting or a change in your NAS's IP address will break the connection.
By understanding these options and troubleshooting steps, you can ensure your Doorbird's storage is configured correctly and never miss an important event.